What’s new: In Stokes’ first season at Middleton, the Tigers started 5-2 but lost their final three games, missing the playoffs. Now, the Tigers will have to rebuild on offense. Middleton loses its top passer in Clay (835 yards, 10 TDs), rusher in Mingo (628, eight TDs) and receiver in Sanders (365, five TDs), so Stokes will need some key skill position players to emerge. Stokes will put the offense under the control of new starting quarterback Aaron Midthus, who struggled last season (6-for-17, four interceptions), but brings varsity passes under his belt. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Midthus will have to take the reins and become a leader on a young offense. But on defense, there are a lot of the typical athletes Middleton is known for, led by Taylor and Pease, who combined for 22 tackles a game last season.

Audible: We have a young offense that we are really focusing on this spring to get up to speed. I’m curious to find out how they will respond to live bullets this Friday night.” — Stokes

Did you know? Taylor, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound ballhawk in the Tigers’ secondary, led Class 2A with 108 total tackles. He averaged 12 a game.